I first saw the romantic looking sandeq sailing vessels while crossing the Indian Ocean and arriving at Ashmore Reef. They were like sweet green butterflies on the horizon and they had come south 150 nautical miles from Indonesia without navigational aids to fish the shallow water around the atolls. Now these same vessels are to be highly honoured in France, at the Brest 2012 International Maritime Festival of the Sea. Their long history is riveting – read the story.

Two stories – the one on the Titanic and the rescue of the French sailor in the Atlantic - focus on Digital Selective Calling, and the fact that so many sailors have DSC-enabled VHF radios but they don't go the extra step and make sure they are connected to their GPS system. Rescue authorities are constantly harping, but so far the statistics haven't changed much.

Two stories this week about the Russian yacht Scorpius in the Antarctic. She was reported missing for a couple of days but was found safe, battling heavy ice. She has now failed to make her target of the Russian Antarctic Bellingshausen station. The crew have reported they are heading for 'a refuelling stop in southern Argentina'.

British sailors are up in arms about the largest wind farm in the world to be erected right across their most popular sailing grounds. Speaking of Britain, the River Thames is the place to be on June 3rd if you're 'British-based and boat-minded' – read why...

In practical news, the product of the week is a wind-up LED torch, there's a book review of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's 'Knox-Johnston on Sailing', and John Jamieson offers seven excellent tips for using your GPS's alarm system to reduce the adrenaline flow when cruising.

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